Water is
essential to life on earth and totally dominates the chemical composition
of all organisms. The characteristics of water regulate a lake's metabolism.
Its unique thermal-density
properties, specific
heat, and freezing point allow the formation of a stratified
environment which controls the chemical and biological properties of
lakes.

In this lesson you research the different
properties of water. You use WOW data and complete a wet experiment to
develop an understanding of how water behaves in a lake environment.

Experimental Design
As a chemistry instructor you need to demonstrate
typical summer and winter lake profile for your class. Write a 1-2 paragraph
lesson plan detailing how to use WOW data to teach your students about
how water behaves in a lake environment.

Data Collection
What data do you plan to collect to develop
a typical summer and winter lake profile? How do you plan to organize
the data you collect? Your presentation must be clear for your students.
Collect the data from WOW.

Data Management and Analysis
Create graphs and/or tables to display the
WOW data you collected. Remember to label your axes and legends and title
your graphs and tables. How will you explain the graphs and tables to
your class?

Interpretation of Results
What conclusions might your students draw
from the data? How can you help your students reconsider any possible
misunderstandings about lake profiles? What other data might help students
understand typical lake profiles?

Reporting ResultsAfter you complete Part 2 use the data you
collected and your tables and graphs to create a lesson about typical
lake profiles. It can be a written paper, poster, oral report, or multi-media
presentation. Be prepared to answer any questions your class might have.

Part 2 - Lake Profiles
in the Lab

Knowledge Base
Some students in your class are still a
bit confused about typical summer and winter lake profiles. Consider
how you might replicate the WOW data in the laboratory. What questions
can
guide students' thought processes?

Experimental DesignYour school has provided the following materials
to create summer and winter lake models.

two 5-10 gallon aquaria

plastic ruler

thermometer

red food coloring

2 gallon carboy with valve/tygon tube/U-tube assembly

salt

Pasteur pipettes

5 gallons of refrigerated tap water (4-5°C)

Write a lesson plan detailing how to use
these materials to demonstrate typical summer and winter lake profiles
to your class.

Data Collection
What do you expect to see in your lake profiles?
How do you plan to organize the data you collect? Your presentation must
be clear for your students. Create your lake profiles.

Interpretation of Results
What conclusions might your students draw
from the experiment? Does the experiment confirm the WOW data? If not,
why? How can you help students reconsider any possible misunderstandings
about lake profiles? What other data might help students understand typical
lake profiles?

Reporting Results
Use the data you collected and your tables
and graphs to create a lesson about typical lake profiles. It can be
a written paper, poster, oral report, or multi-media presentation. Be
prepared to answer any questions your class might have.